To be annoyed with NHS 111

[Iamacatslave]

I phoned NHS 111 yesterday at 11.30am. and I am still waiting for a GP to call me back. I need to increase my meds by 25mg and am unable to do this by cutting my 50mg tablets in half. The advisor I spoke to said I needed a new prescription and a GP would call me back in 2 hours. I have phoned back several times, only to be told they are very busy and will phone. And I really don’t want to waste time at A&E for a prescription.

111 don’t issue prescriptions - they will just triage to the out of hours service or other urgent care setting. Some queries like this end up being sent by 111 to community pharmacy and all we can do is pass on to the out of hours.

111 do issue prescriptions

There is literally an option for that when you ring

Any update? How are you feeling xx

@cultkid
Still waiting for a call back. I’m doing ok and managed to sleep for 2 hours. Thanks for asking. X

Have you got tramadol

It won't work with nerve pain.

I was given them when I was first diagnosed with TN, until I saw the consultant and he gave me something that actually worked.

Yes. I was also prescribed this when I was first diagnosed. Unfortunately it doesn’t help me.

A pharmacy cannot simply swap and change and prescription only medication at will, you need a legally valid prescription.

In all honesty I doubt this will be a high priority for 111, you will probably need to wait until business hours to sort it.

Urgh... if it is TN or similar you have my sympathies as it is grim. Never felt pain like it before.
When you do finally get a prescription could you ask whether they can prescribe a tablet that can be halved rather than capsules.
My gp fully understands that I take more or less of my meds up to my prescribed dose depending on how bad my pain is, on the advice of my neurologist.

@TruffyPig
I do have a “legally valid prescription” from my consultant at St. Thomas’ complete with a letter instructing me how I need to increase my dosage. I simply need a 25mg tablet to add on to my 50mg tablet.

If it's a capsule, open it up and mix the powder in 5ml
Of water and take 2.5ml of it. That what we do at work!

In the meantime, could you change the interval to be equivalent to the higher dose?

E.g. now you're taking 50mg every 4 hours (I.e. 300mg per day)
You want increase to take 75mg every four hours (I.e. 450mg per day)
For now take 50mg every 2.5-3 hours 400-480 mg per day)

Did the health advisor not chase up the previous call? The gp oohs is so busy especially during the bank holiday weekend. But you have been waiting since yesterday!
Also, the ooh’s is separate to 111. They just send the referral to them and then they contact the patient.

I do have a “legally valid prescription” from my consultant at St. Thomas

Then why are you ringing 111? If you have a prescription for what you need take it to the pharmacy.

A letter however is not a legally valid prescription. Nor is an old prescription for a different strength that has already been dispensed. The pharmacy will need a valid prescription for the item you require, anyone saying you can simply swap it is incorrect is what I was getting at.

I have some medications I sometimes need more of, my GP wrote a script for the normal amount then a second script to say take Xmg, y times a day as needed. I can get both dispensed at the same time. Might be an option for the future.

If it's a capsule, open it up and mix the powder in 5ml Of water and take 2.5ml of it. That what we do at work!

Where do you work? As in what field, not your work address, I mean. Genuine question, not bun-fighty.

It is not recommended that the capsules be opened, phenytoin has a narrow therapeutic index.

@cultkid

111 do issue prescriptions

There is literally an option for that when you ring

There is a pathway for repeat prescriptions - this is not a repeat.

[quote Iamacatslave]@TruffyPig
I do have a “legally valid prescription” from my consultant at St. Thomas’ complete with a letter instructing me how I need to increase my dosage. I simply need a 25mg tablet to add on to my 50mg tablet.[/quote]
Do you have a prescription from your consultant for 25mg capsules? If not then I'm sorry but you don't have a legally valid prescription.

Have you phoned the out of hours service yet?

@StrawberryPi

In the meantime, could you change the interval to be equivalent to the higher dose?

E.g. now you're taking 50mg every 4 hours (I.e. 300mg per day)
You want increase to take 75mg every four hours (I.e. 450mg per day)
For now take 50mg every 2.5-3 hours 400-480 mg per day)

Are you qualified to give this advice?

I am not going to attempt to divide a capsule in half!

@RockallMalinHebrides

Yes I have the original hospital prescription for 25mg. I’ve phoned the ooh again and they had no record of my call from yesterday. I’m back to waiting for a call.

@TruffyPig

Sorry I’m a bit stressed at the moment. It’s a copy of the original hospital prescription for 25mg. I’ve resigned myself to calling my GP in the morning.

It is an FP10 form - so looks like a normal prescription (dated in the last 6 months) or is a hospital outpatient prescription form that must be dispensed in the hospital pharmacy?

I'm still waiting for a call back from February!

I'd give up and ring your GP asap tomorrow.

Hope your flare up isn't too bad.

@Iamacatslave

The medication is Phenytoin. I don’t think I could successfully divide the powder within the capsule. Unfortunately Tramadol doesn’t help with the pain.

Take double the dose rather than half? It isn’t a 111 issue or A&E.. not a medical emergency. I’m not surprised they haven’t called you back.